Tom is an expert in all things Fortnite or the latest RPG release, but is probably spending too much time on the latest EA FC game.
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While the ARPG king, Diablo, has had another entry revealed this week, a more family-friendly option is returning very soon. Ahead of Minecraft Dungeons 2‘s launch, I went hands-on with the sequel at Gamescom and came away excited by the game’s altered structure and how welcoming it is for new players.
The biggest change is a move to using an open-world map. Gone are the linear quests, where you select where you’re going and follow the path of particular dungeons; Minecraft Dungeons 2 gives you more freedom. If you want to explore the game’s various biomes (including some new ones for the series), to mess about with your friends or practice your fighting skills, then the sequel lets you do just that.
The actual quest, as well as the dungeons themselves, are still pretty linear, but it’s nice to have the option to go off the beaten path when you want to. Since the game drastically increases the options you have for build development, it’s good to have a pressure-free way to test them out.
Your ability to experiment with builds grants a level of freedom, too. The number of combat slots has been upgraded from six to 12, and you’re able to switch pieces in and out at any time. That makes it incredibly easy to mess around with what you have equipped to try and craft the most overpowered build possible. You’re also able to match your build to your playstyle more precisely when you have 12 slots to use, and since there are no classes, you can make one that combines all the ones you like.
Enchantments have also changed for Dungeons 2 to make them more useful. You’ll stumble across enchantment books around the world, which you can then use at an enchantsmith to apply them to any piece of gear you like. They are no longer tied to specific pieces of gear, letting you use them as and when you want. That’s another welcome quality-of-life change that makes dungeoning more rewarding than in the first game.
When you’re actually out on quests and completing dungeons, the sequel feels very similar to the first game. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the gameplay base was good already, but don’t go in expecting anything mind-blowing. Yes, you can jump, which is a nice change that introduces some combat variety, but the action is mostly the same otherwise.
Mojang wants Minecraft Dungeons 2 to be accessible for anyone – a game that players of all ages and levels of experience can pick up and play easily. I think that means it’s smart to ensure the moment-to-moment gameplay isn’t too complicated. Run about, find enemies, smack them about a bit; that’s enough for most players, as long as it feels good.
I think the only aspect of Dungeons 2 that might scare players off is how busy it can get on screen during combat encounters. With four player characters, who all look pretty similar, fighting enemies in small areas at the same time, it can be hard to track where your own avatar is. The world is colorful, but so are the characters and their attacks, so everything can blend into one at times. I found myself having to move towards the edge of the map to try and work out where I was before jumping back into the action.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 smartly fills a gap in the market. A more casual dungeon-crawling ARPG is a great option for younger players or people hoping for something a bit more chill. The sequel doesn’t change much, but the quality-of-life changes add just enough depth to make the existing action more rewarding than ever.